[Billy_bob_bob]

Well written. I left California (Silicon Valley) almost two years ago and I've not looked back since. I'll never set foot in that state again if I can possibly help it. Fourty years was long enough. Some people like it there, it does have some good points, but overall I was very happy to be able to leave.

[Black Agnes]

I like the part about the funding of 'non governmental organizations'. *lol*. Why not just use the acronym NGO so it'll be recognized as a UN thingie?

[highpockets]

I left the Bay Area six years ago and move to Kansas City, KS. Best thing I ever did. I suppose there a million different reasons why Kalifornia is so screwed up but the one that caught my eye first was this.

The phone book. Most phone books have a different colored section in which the goverment listings are posted. Many are blue. The section from my book in the Bay area was huge.Here you have to look hard to find it.

Yeah I know there is population difference, but the section does not list each government employee by name only by departments.

[Hank Rearden]

Your experience mirrors mine. After getting a business successful, the parasites just kept beating on us, so the business is no longer there.

I left the state of my birth when I was 40, have never looked back, and if I didn't have a few relatives there I'd never see or think about CA again. Don't miss it even a little bit. My sole concern about CA is as a source of idiotic humor.

[rockfish59]

I left in Nov. '99 after 48 years. Mainly because of the rat race bay area, but I also refused to live under the socialist boot. I sure hope voters there clean house in November.
Washington has its kooks for sure, but you'll never get a concealed carry permit in Kommiefornia!